TEMERLOH: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today decreed that all programmes introduced to safeguard the environment and protect wildlife must be closely monitored by both the federal and state governments.
The King said the monitoring at both the federal and state level will ensure the success of the respective programmes in the long run.
"Efforts to preserve the natural ecosystems, and protect the animal habitats in the jungle has to be given encouragement by both the government and private(sector). This is vital as sometimes we will not be able to see the end results immediately but notice the outcome several years down the road.
"There has to be a programme to specifically monitor the efforts including in Pahang to ensure environmental rehabilitation will be successfully executed. Failure is not an option.
"I hope my decree will be taken seriously and not for the sake of just attending(the launching event), having the food (served at event) and returning home. We want to see the programmes become a success," he said in his speech when launching the Eco -Schools Malaysia and Greening Education Partnership (GEP) roadmap 2030 themed A United Nations Greening Education Partnership Initiative at Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Temerloh here today.
Meanwhile, on the programme, Al-Sultan Abdullah described it as an important programme in the country's education ecosystem which involved efforts to create awareness among youths especially students.
"I was told that this programme began several years ago and today I learned that the efforts by GGAF (Green Growth Asia Foundation) has been recognised by the United Nations and this is certainly a significant acknowledgement.
"This programme by GGAF (which leads the Eco-Schools Malaysia initiative) is not only carried out in Malaysia but around the world," he said.
Also present was Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying.
Meanwhile, Lim, who read Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek's speech text, said the ministry is always open and looking at opportunities to improve the quality of education based on students achievement and empowering lifelong learning values.
"The launching of Eco -Schools Malaysia and GEP 2030 will help bring the national education ecosystem one step ahead. Eco-Schools celebrates diversity and educational equality as the participation for the programme has no restriction apart from providing commitment.
"This is proven through the participation of urban and rural schools, Orang Asli pupils, schools with low enrolment and vernacular schools from all over the country. Eco-Schools are guaranteed access to quality learning aids from the Foundation for Environmental Education's global database and international networks from more than 95 countries.
"The programme ensures fair opportunities to all beneficiaries that helps with student achievement and exposes them to the elements of inquiry-based learning, and youth leadership in line with the national educational philosophy. This will produce a competent and capable generation in the future," she said.
She said the Eco-Schools methodology emphasises curriculum integration that includes environmental education elements in the national learning syllabus to help make learning a fun and meaningful activity for students.
"Sustainability encompasses all aspects of life including language (communication), mathematics (carbon footprint calculation), religious and moral education (civilizational values) and others.
"As part of the efforts to prevent dropout rates in education, the rights of students with special education needs has to be preserved and empowered because they too deserve access to quality education. The Eco-Schools programme ensures the involvement of students with special educational needs and offers different intervention schemes tailored to the students level....this proves that the Eco-Schools programme complements the national education ecosystem," she said, thanking GGAF for providing the paradigm shift platform.
The Eco-Schools programme which aims to instil environmental conservation awareness among students began in 2011, before GGAF took over in 2021 and has since benefited some 4,800 students, and 3,400 teachers from 372 schools nationwide.
In June, Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah, who is the royal patron of Eco-Schools Malaysia, launched the Pahang Eco School Programme.